3 results

Application of molecular genetics to the Australian abalone fisheries: forensic protocols for species identification and blacklip stock structure

Project number: 1999-164
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $353,888.00
Principal Investigator: Malcolm Haddon
Organisation: University of Tasmania (UTAS)
Project start/end date: 19 Sep 1999 - 13 Aug 2002
:
TAGS
Stock Assessment
Genomics
Compliance
Aquaculture
SPECIES
Blacklip Abalone
Roe's Abalone
Greenlip Abalone
Brownlip Abalone

Need

The state of molecular genetic technology in abalone is underdeveloped and in need of some basic research to develop molecular protocols that can be applied to various management and compliance issues; microsatellite markers are likely to have the most utility, and other abalone fisheries will benefit from Australian research (Sweijd 1997 - External review FRDC 98/126).

Abalone populations elsewhere in the world have crashed catastrophically. Australian abalone resources are in a relatively good condition, but are under heavy pressure from many external factors, including poaching, that could cause irreversible damage. In addition, some sections of the industry are excited by the potential of translocation or reseeding for stock enhancement, but without fully understanding the genetic variability in a population this represents a high conservation risk. Understanding genetic variation in abalone at both the species and stock level is vital to the long-term sustainability of these valuable fisheries, as well as for genetic conservation.

Compliance is not only a major issue in the draft 1998 review of wild abalone R&D needs in Australia, but is also an international issue. There are currently no forensic tools available in Australia to assist authorities identify abalone products and force compliance.

The application of molecular genetics in this study will provide managers with:
• forensic tests for species identification
• estimation of rates of gene flow between selected locations (i.e. stock identification).

Stock identification is needed not only for managing the commercial and recreational catch, but also for assessing the risks of translocation and reseeding projects, and land-based or sea-based aquaculture industries.

This study will build on a pilot project that developed the basis for an abalone forensic protocol, and will also provide a comprehensive assessment of the use of microsatellite markers for abalone stock identification. These goals are of both national and international interest.

Objectives

1. To refine, and where necessary establish, abalone species identification protocols to forensic standards suitable for required fisheries compliance.
2. To define the stock structure of blacklip abalone (Haliotis rubra) around Tasmania, using polymorphic nuclear DNA microsatellite markers.
3. To determine a suitable sampling and analysis regime for other temperate Australian abalone fisheries.
4. To determine the possible effects of harvesting on the genetic conservation of the blacklip abalone (H. rubra), by comparing the allozyme variation of two areas of the Tasmanian fishery with results obtained from the same areas in the late 1980s.

Final report

ISBN: 1-876-996-12-9
Author: Malcolm Haddon
Final Report • 2002-08-08 • 2.65 MB
1999-164-DLD.pdf

Summary

Of the nineteen abalone (Haliotidae) species recognised in Australian waters (Geiger 1999), ten are endemic and two dominate the commercial, recreational and illegal harvests in southern States: the blacklip abalone Haliotis rubra Leach and the greenlip abalone H. laevigata Donovan. A third species, Roe’s abalone H. roei Gray, is a significant component of the Western Australian harvest. All three species, as well as the tropical H. asinina Linnaeus are also important as aquaculture species. The largest Australian (and world) fishery is in Tasmanian waters (half of Australia’s harvest) and is focused predominantly on the blacklip abalone. Other species such as H. scalaris (Leach) and H. conicopora Péron have potential commercial value in temperate waters.
 
Internationally, overfishing, illegal fishing, pollution and recruitment failures have been implicated in the decline of many abalone fisheries (e.g. Hobday et al. 2001). However, the Australian fishery has had a relatively constant harvest over the past decade (1990-91 5.2 kt, 1997-98 5.2 kt, 1999/00 5.5 kt), with a total value over $230m in 1999/00 (ABARE 2001). The full extent of the illegal harvest in Australia is unknown, yet whatever the value, it is a large illegal business that may eventually impact on the commercial resource.

Abalone Aquaculture Subprogram: a national survey of diseases of commercially exploited abalone species to support trade and translocation issues and the development of health surveillance programs

Project number: 2002-201
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $214,113.00
Principal Investigator: Judith Handlinger
Organisation: University of Tasmania (UTAS)
Project start/end date: 19 Oct 2002 - 30 Aug 2006
:
TAGS
Trade
Health And Safety
Disease
Biosecurity
Aquaculture
SPECIES
Blacklip Abalone
Roe's Abalone
Greenlip Abalone

Need

Abalone Growers Associations in Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia have given their support for the establishment of health monitoring programs of their farm’s stock, and are willing to contribute financially for establishing these and for ongoing monitoring. They see such programs as putting them in a unique position to to enable them to prevent disease in their stock and of meeting future market expectations in relation to health accreditation. This process is threatened by inadequate data on diseases in wild stock, and in some states by limited experience in abalone diagnosis.

Similarly the wild harvest abalone industry recognises vulnerability from a lack of knowledge of the occurrence and distribution of diseases in Australian wild stocks, in a climate where interstate translocation and trade access and quality issues are increasing. They also seek assurances on the health of farmed stock and of stock used for reseeding operations. As a result, the wild abalone sector and fisheries and animal health authorities in these states also strongly support a baseline survey of diseases present in the exploited abalone species, and development of improved surveillance capability.

The project is to acquire this background data on abalone disease, by a health survey covering the natural range of the exploited temperate abalone species. It includes the abalone aquaculture industry and the wild fishery in SA, Victoria, Tasmania, NSW and WA. The project will incorporate associated initial training, permanent presentation on collated results in accessible electronic format (CD and the subprogram’s website), and an abalone disease symposium to develop a net-work of state-based resources for on-going diagnosis, health certification and other shellfish health related functions at reasonable cost to the industry.

Development of the on-going state-based surveillance programs for aquaculture will progress in conjunction with this (without cost to the project), and with consultation with wild fisheries industries and managers, who will also benefit from improved capability for diagnostic and surveillance services.

Objectives

1. To undertake, over approximately one year, a single-round health survey of abalone from representative wild groups of commercial abalone species throughout their range in 5 states, using statistically relevant samples appropriate to maximize the chances of detection of serious diseases and define the disease agents present.
2. To similarly examine equivalent samples from all abalone farms and reseeding operations in these states.
3. From these to develop a database of abalone disease, their location and apparent prevalence (with confidence limits), then to present these findings to the wild and aquaculture industries and State and National government agencies, and to record them pictorially in accessible electronic format.
4. To expand the pool of abalone health expertise by holding an initial training workshop for collaborating pathologists to facilitate the survey, and a national abalone health meeting to present disease and pathology findings to all relevant pathologists and health service providers, to ensure their adoption.
5. Ensure the resulting information and skills are fully utilized by assisting in the development of cost-effective on-going health surveillance programs through collaboration with the abalone aquaculture industry and state authorities.

Final report

Author: Judith Handlinger
Final Report • 2007-03-27 • 26.62 MB
2002-201-DLD.pdf
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